Sluice weir



Dec. 25, 1934.

K. SCHON.

SLUICE WEIR Filed April 3, 1934 e Sheets-Sheet i nwu rbn mm. scno'u K. scHON SLU'ICE WEIR Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed 'April 3, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet iuvEm'oR I scm'iu "Jay/Dz KARL ATTORNEY Dec. 25, -1934.

K. scHCSN SLUIGE WEIR Filed April 3, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR' KARL CH5N "My ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1934. R K, S HON "1,985,872

S'LUICE WEIR Filed April 5 1934 e Sheets-Sheet 4 m mu u I INVENTOR ARL scn31v "m mu;

ATTORNEY SLUICE WEIR Filed April 3, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVCNTOR KARL 5015M Ora/J. M95.-

ATTORNEY Dec. 25,1934. 5cm; 1,985,872

SLUIGE WEIR Filed April 3, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet 6 I IN VENTOR KARL scmilv via/14 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES- SLUICE WEIR Karl Schiin, Wurzburg, Germany Application April 3, 1934, Serial No. 718,779

In Germany April 10, 1933 '9 Claims.

My invention relates to structural improvements in sluice weirs and kindred structures, built across the bed of a river or valley for damming up water and being provided with a moveable sluice, so designed, that it can be temporarily lowered from its normal operative position to a lower level for cleaning purposes, namely with the object of allowing a limited quantity of the dammed up water to pass over the immersed top edge of the sluice,-i n order to carry ofi drift ice, brush wood, or other undesirable objects floating on the water, which are liable to block the sluice and to choke its moveable parts.'

As a rule with sluices of this design the said cleaning operation can be carried out with a relatively small quantity of water, which is of importance during dry and cold seasons and in the many cases, where the dammed up water must be economized with all the year round, every drop being needed for the turbines of an electric power station, or for irrigation, navigation and other purposes. a

The invention relates to structural improvements in sluices of the character described and more particularly in the accessorial and auxiliary structures and appliances provided in-and on the bank work of the floodway and at its bottom-for cooperation with the sluice proper.

One of the primary objects of the invention isto provide-for the purpose of saving water namely preventing the loss of an unduly great quantity of the dammed up water escaping underneath the sluice-a sillof improved construction at the bottom of the floodway so designed, that a'nearly perfect, practically water tight closure is obtained, while the sluice is in its normal position and while it descends to and remains for awhile on a lower level.

Another object of the invention is to so design the sluice and closure members cooperatively associated therewith, and also those auxiliary strucbriefly outlined in the appended claims and will 'be more fully understood from the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a sluice weir of the roller type, designed according to this invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section of the roller sluice weir shown by way of an example in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross section on a largerscale taken through asill structure designed according to this invention for sluice weirs havinga sluice of the roller type,

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections through the bank work of the flood gate showing one of the conduits through which the moveable parts of the sill are accessible and the valves cooperatively connected therewith,

Figs. 6 and 7 arefragmentary cross sections through sluice weirs of modified design, Fig. 6 showing a sliding sluice, while Fig. '7 shows a segment' shaped sluice which is swung around pivots.

The sluice weir illustrated by way of an example in Figs. 1-5 of the drawings is of the roller type and essentially consists of a hollow sheet metal cylinder 1, the ends of which are engaged and guided by tooth racks 2 and chains 2' in such manner that the rollencan be lifted to an upper inoperative position and can be lowered to its normal operative position and thence to a still lower position, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5.

The roller 1 is provided with a dam-shield 4,

mounted thereon by means of braces and frame work indicated at 4' and having attached to its lower edge a'packing beam of ledge 3, preferably made of elastic material such as wood, india rubber etc.

As seen in Figs. 1-4 the roller 1' is supported in its normal operative position by a base plate 5, which is pivotally mounted at 6 on the sill of the weir and is capable of being tilted from its substantially upright position, shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in full lines, into an inclined position, shown in dotted lines, in which the rear edge 7 of the curved shoulder 7 of the base plate engages the dam shield 4 at its front facing head water H.

In both cases practically water tight joints are obtained at the respective faces of contact because the packing ledge 3 while resting on the base plate 5 is pressed against the latter by the I 7 weight of the roller 1 andits dam-shield 4, and because the rear edge 7' of the base plate 5 can be water T respectively. Said draining means com-.

means and (or) by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water acting upon the base plate in the direction of arrow a and trying to turn the latter around its pivot 6, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The motion of the base plate 5 in the direction of arrow a is limited by a flange 8, upwardly extending from shoulder '7 and being preferably provided with a packing member, so as engage in the manner, best seen in Fig. 3, with a flange 9 downwardly extending from an armor plate 9' and to form a tight joint.

At the lower end of the base plate 5 another packing member 10 preferably made of elastic sheet metal is provided which ensures a tight joint at the hinges 6.

According to this invention a mechanism is provided for positively moving by mechanical force the base plate 5 around its pivot 6 into the different operative positions referred above, and in addition thereto structures and appliances are provided for applying to the base plate hydrostatic pressure, which may be utilized jointly with the said mechanism or independently thereof for actuating the base plate 5.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1-5 by way of an example the said structures comprise a step formed in the sill and extending across the bottom of the weir, the upright face 50 of which facing tail water T and being opposed to the base plate 5,-a tunnel 11 formed in said step which is open at one side facing the base plate 5, and substantially vertically disposed shafts or conduits 12, 12' which are provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and interconnect the tunnel 11 (Fig. 2) and the engine rooms of the sluice.

Climbing bars 12a, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, enable the operators of the sluice to descend in cases of emergency to the tunnel 11 for inspecting, cleaning and repairing the mechanism provided in the tunnel 11 for tilting the base plate 5 and the draining means in the conduits 12, 12' referred to in detail hereinafter.

The said tilting mechanism comprises a rocking shaft 13 mounted parallel to the base plate 5 in front of the tunnel 11, a plurality of levers 14, 16 and links 15 attached to the rocking shaft and the base plate respectively, connecting rods 17 upwardly extending through the conduits 12 (Fig. 2), and a hand operated gear; said gear comprises a rocking shaft 18, a lever 19 attached thereto and to the connecting rod 1'7, a sector shaped gear wheel 20, a pinion 22 and a handle 21. Pinion 22 is slidably mounted in order to be thrown out of engagement temporarily with the gear wheel 20 by the operators with the object of allowing the base plate 5 to spontaneously tilt downwardly by its own weight and in turn to be raised by the hydrostatic pressure of the head water H.

For applying hydrostatic pressure upon the base plate 5 according to this invention draining means are provided in the conduits 12, 12' by which the latter can be put into and out of communication with the head water H and the tail prise a perforated drain pipe 23-leading from the conduit to a place slightly below the head water level H, a drain pipe 24, leading from the conduit to the tail water T, and gate valves 25, 25", 26, operable by meansof rods 1', r, (Fig. 1). or rotary shafts 1'" (Figs. 4, 5 and hand wheels from the engine rooms of the sluice, for filling the conduits 12, 12 with dammed up water or putting the said conduits and the tunnel 11 into communication with the tafl water T.

On closing the gate valves 25 and 26, and while the sluice is in its normal operative position (Fig. 1) all the water can be removed by a pump I (not shown) from the conduits 12 and the tunnel 11, so that the latter are accessible to the operators of the sluice in cases of emergency etc.

The invention can be used to equal advantage in connection with sluices of other types including sliding sluices and sector shaped sluices of the swinging type.

I The sliding sluice 4i shown in Fig. 6 has a flat front face and a packing beam 31', which rests on the tiltable base plate 51'; the latter can be withdrawn on lowering the sluice and is in turn reciprocated by mechanisms, structures and appliancespartly shown-which may be of substantially the same design as described above with reference to the sluice of the roller type.

The sector shaped sluice 412 shown in Fig. 7. on being lifted and lowered swings around pivots p and is also cooperatively associated with a. tiltable base plate 50 in substantially the same manner as described hereinbefore.

Various other changes and modifications may be made in the structural details of sluices, designed according to this invention, and in the various appliances, structures and mechanisms for operating sluices of the types shown and described above, without departingfrom the spirit and the salient ideas of this invention.

For instance with the object of facilitating the operation of the sluice and rendering it practically foolproof the mechanism for actuating the base plate 5 and for opening and closing the valves in the drain pipes 23, 24 may be cooperatively interconnected with the lifting gear of the sluice by a switching mechanism so designed, that on lowering the sluice intoits lowermost position the said base plate and valves are automatically operated in proper sequence.

In Figs. 4 and 5 an automatic switching mechanism designed for this purpose is shown by way of an example:

Said mechanism comprises a main lever 31 operable by hand and fulcrumed at 31', which is loaded by a weight 37 and is cooperativelyassociated: I I

1. With the mechanism for tilting the base plate 5 by a lever 27, pivotally attached to rod 17, and a lever 29, slidingly engaged by the slotted end 30' of link 30, which is provided with clamping or checking means such as holes 30a and a cotter pin, by which the lever. 29 can be firmly attached to the link 30' in fixed positions,

2. With throttle valves 33, 34 provided in the drain pipes 23, 24 respectively, by levers 4549 and links 51, 52, 53.

3. With the lifting gear of the sluice by a rotary disc .41 rotating in the direction of arrow 2:, while the sluice descends, by a pin 42 projectingfrom said disc, a trip dog 39 having a tall 40 for engagement with the pin 42, and a detent, 38, so arranged on lever 31 as to .be engaged by the trip dog 39 (Fig. 5). and to be automatically disengaged therefrom (Fig. 5), while the sluice descends.

Before lowering the sluice 1 from this normal operative position, shown in Fig. 1, into a lower position the sluice is first slightly lifted so as to release the base plate 5, while lever 31 is in the position, shown in Fig. 4, in which the valve 33 of the upper drain pipe 23 is closed, while valve 34 of the lower drain pipe 24 is open, so that the the height of the tail water level T; the released base plate 5 will thereupon tilt back by its own weight into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3; should the base plate 5 not spontaneously retreat out of the path .of movement of the sluice, the base plate will be positively tilted by the lever 2'! namely through its engagement with the inner end 301' of the slotted portion 30' of the link 30.

On lowering the sluice disc 41 is rotatedpthe pin 42 by tripping the dog 39 and thus disengaging the detent 38 releases thelever 31 which is then returned by the weight 37 into the position shown in Fig. 5.

Concurrently valve 34 of the lower drain pipe '24 is closed and valve 33 of the upper drain pipe 23 opened with the result, that dammed up water H will enter and refill the conduits 12 and will in turn by reason of its hydrostatic pressure raise the base plate 5 forcing the latter against the front face of dam-shield 4. a

In order to cope with irregular and adverse conditions due to which the base plate 5 may not spontaneously rise into contact with .the sluice.

the upper end of lever 27 may be bolted to the I slotted link 30, so that the weight 37 will help to raise the base plate into contact with the sluice.

In cases where the sluice is of relatively small width and by reason of its ample rigidity can be operated from one side alone for instance by one pitched link chain, likewise only one set of mechanisms for operating the base plate and drain valves would be required in theengine rooms of the sluice.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the .sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of .being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said base plate.

2. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said base plate,said tilting means comprising a mechanism for mechantive position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engagesthe front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said base plate, said tilting means comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the floodway, the upright face of said step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one side which is opposed to the said base plate, substantially vertically disposed conduits provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as tribe in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for putting the said con duits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up water and with the tail water respectively.

4. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said ba e plate said' tiltingmeans comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the fioodway, the

upright face of said step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one'side which is opposed to the said base plate, substantially vertically disposed conduits provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tuimel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as to be in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for putting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of v being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means forv tilting said base plate,said tilting means comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the floodway, the upright face of said .step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one side which is opposed to the said base plate, sub stantially vertically disposed conduits provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as to be in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for putting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up water and with the tail water respectively,said actuating means comprising a rocking shaft mounted in the said tunnel, a plurality of levers and links cooperatively interconnecting said rocking shaft and base plate, a gear under the control of the operators of the sluice, and means cooperatively connecting said gear and the said rocking shaft,--said gear and connecting means including a sector shaped gear wheel mounted on a rocking shaft, a lever, a connecting rod, and a link cooperatively interconnecting the gear wheel and the rocking shaft within the-said tunnel.

6. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice,

while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in whch the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said base plate,-said tilting means comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the fioodway, the upright face of said step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one side which is opposed to the said base plate, substantially vertically disposed conduits provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as to be in reach of the operators or the sluice, and draining means for putting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up waterand with the tail water respectively, said draining means comprising gate valves, arranged within the conduits at different levels, means under the control of the operators of the sluice for opening and closing said valves, and drain pipes leading to the dammed up water and the tail water respectively.

'7. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and means for tilting said base plate,said tilting means comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic pressure of the dammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the fioodway, the upright face of said step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one side which is opposed to the said base plate, substantially vertically disposed conduits .provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as to be in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for putting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up water and with the tail water respectively, said drain- V ing means comprising gate valves, arranged within the conduits at different levels, means under the control of the operators of the sluice for opening and closing said valves, and drain pipes leading to the dammed up water and the tail water respectively,-and an auxiliary switching mechanism for automatically admitting into and discharging water from said conduits and for actuating the base plate.

8. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low posi-' tion, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position, in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base. plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the latter is in its abnormally low position, and

means for tilting said base plate,-said tilting.

tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so as to be in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for put-ting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up water and with the tail water respectively, said draining means comprising gate valves, arranged within the conduits at different levels, means under the control of the operators of the sluice for opening and closing said valves, and drain pipes leading to the dammed up water and the tail water respectively,-and an auxiliary switching mechanism for automatically admitting into and discharging water from said conduits and for actuating the base plate,-said switching mechanism including a main lever operable by hand and loaded by a weight, a set of levers and links interconnecting said main lever with throttle valves provided in said drain pipes, and another set of levers and a slotted link, interconnecting the main lever with the actuating mechanism of the base plate.

' 9. In combination with a sluice weir a moveable sluice adapted to be lowered from its normal operative position into an abnormally low position, in which the dammed up water flows over the top edge of the sluice, means for lifting and lowering said sluice, a base plate pivotally mounted underneath the sluice and being capable of being tilted from a substantially upright position,

in which the base plate supports the sluice, while the latter is in its normal operative position, into an inclined position, in which the base plate engages the front face of the sluice, while the means comprising a mechanism for mechanically actuating the said base plate and appliances for actuating said base plate by the hydrostatic,

pressure of thedammed up water, said mechanism and appliances comprising a step formed in the sill of the weir and extending across the bottom of the fioodway, the upright face of said step facing tail water and being opposed to the said base plate, a tunnel in said step being open at one side which is opposed to the said base plate, substantially vertically disposed conduits .provided in the reinforced bank work of the weir and being in open communication with the said tunnel, actuating means cooperatively attached to the base plate and extending through the said tunnel and conduits, so asto be in reach of the operators of the sluice, and draining means for putting the said conduits and tunnel into and out of communication with the dammed up water and with the tail water respectively,-the said base platebeing provided with an upright flange for cooperation with a flanged armor plate projecting from the upper face of said step.

KARL scnon. 

